Last Thursday, the Harrisburg High School wrestling team opened up SIRR Ohio play with a 44-33 loss to Murphysboro in dual action.

"We made improvements tonight, but continue to make inexperienced mistakes," head coach Greg Langley said. "Those mistakes cost us in some matches that could have swung this match our way."

Darren O'Dell (113-pound), Cody Rightnowar (132-pound), along with Lowry (126-pound), James Baker (145-pound), Karnoksi (182-pound) and Tyler Owens (220-pound) all picked up wins for Harrisburg against the Red Devils.

O'Dell won in a time of 2:26, while Lowry won a decision 7-2. Rightnowar picked up a pinfall at 2:38, while Baker won with a time of 1:30. Karnoski won by forefit and Owens won by pinfall in a time of 1:30.

Only two wins came by the way of an upper classman with Baker (senior) and Owens (junior).

"When you have as many young kids in the lineup, mistakes are to be expected," Langley added. "What we have toy do is correct those mistakes now and continue to improve. I still see this group that we have in the lineup right now as having the potential to be successful through hard work."

On Saturday at the Benton Duals, Harrisburg picked up a win over Carterville (60-21) and Fairfield (42-42, Harrisburg won on tiebreaker), while falling to Sparta 42-33 to stand at 2-3 on the season.

"I have been telling the kids early on this season that we have to make improvements each time we get a chance to wrestle on the mat," Langley said. "I saw some our kids do that today. Don't get me wrong, we still make mistakes and do not always follow what we work on in practice, but there was marked improvements."

In the win against Carterville, O'Dell, Sullivan, Lowry, Rightnowar, Baker, Crisenberry, HIcks, Adams, Owens and Thom all won in their respective matches.

In the win against Fairfield, O'Dell, Lowry, Rightnowar, Crisenbery, Perkins, Owens and Thom all picked up victories.

In the loss to Sparta, Clairda, O'Dell, Sullivan, Rightnowar, Baker and Hicks all won.

"We want them to buy into things that will make us better and able to compete," Langley added.

"With a younger group, it's all about taking steps forward for success rather than back. I like what I see out of our young guys and foresee them having success as we move down the season.